A blog of liberal, progressive ideas in politics, government, and social issues.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Immmigration myths

From Robin Abearian in the Los Angeles Times, writing about Donald Trump's absurd demonizing of immigrants:". . . . As I crossed into Mexico the other day, all I could think was: How
can this blowhard not know that we already have fences in California and
Texas? And that they are unfeasible anywhere else?

". . . . And
that's the thing, really. Screaming about illegal border crossings may
be at an all-time high, but actual illegal border crossings are at
historic lows.

"To
all but the most determined smugglers, our border is effectively
sealed. (And the great wave of Central American children who streamed to
the border last summer? The whole point was to get caught so they could
apply for political asylum.)"

* * *

There are a couple of points I would add. First, that wave of children last year -- they weren't Mexicans, as Robin correctly states. They were from other Central American countries, and they were seeking asylum from gang violence and real dangers, especially to young people -- which is different from just sneaking in and hoping to be undetected.

Second, about Trump's absurd boasting that he would build a great, "beautiful" wall -- and make the Mexican government pay for it. Ask him how he's going to make them. And then explain that most of the undocumented people coming in from the south are not Mexicans. They are people coming through Mexico to get to the U.S. But they are not Mexicans. So why should the Mexican government have anything to do with it?